Wilson County campground shuts down, leaving some with nowhere to go

Some people have called the campground at Buckhorn Veterans Park in Kenly home for more than six years. This month, they received eviction notices from their landlord, leaving some people with no place to go.

Buckhorn Veterans Park is located at 9001 Sullivan Rd. on the Wilson County/Johnston County border.

Since the early 2000s, it's been a place to host recreational activities and enjoy the nearby reservoir. Since 2015, it's also been a place where people pay to park their RVs, campers, or trailers.

Robin Hopkins has called the park home since 2022.

"We're all one big happy family," Hopkins said.

Soon, the community that all 15 people who live here have built will end.

"[I was] shocked. Angry," Hopkins said.

WRAL spoke with one of the park's owners, who said shutting down the campground was not their choice.

In 2022, they said they received a letter from Wilson County calling the campground unlawful without a permit.

After submitting an appeal, the owner got a notice in January 2024 that it was rejected.

A county spokesperson said the campground was about four acres shy of the 10-acre requirement. In addition, the county's standards state that campgrounds cannot host full-time residents other than the campground manager or owner.

Resident George Hartman said he doesn't understand the guidelines.

"If you got enough room and you've been taken care of…why ruin it?" he asked.

People like Hartman said it's not easy to find another housing option at an affordable cost, and other trailer parks and campgrounds are full.

He is one of the lucky ones who has found a spot, but others, like Hopkins, aren't so lucky.

"They say, 'we've got a waiting list… we'll call if a spot is available,' and you never hear from them," Hopkins said.

In a statement, the county said it would not make the campers leave as long as they were looking for another place to stay.

The people who live here feel their lives are being shaken up.

"I pray to the good lord that everyone can find a place," Hartman said.